In a recent open AMA on Twitter, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared candid insights on blockchain technology, digital privacy, community culture, and even personal endurance. From critiquing MPC-based wallets to reflecting on cross-chain cooperation and humanity’s long-term survival risks, Vitalik’s responses offer a rare glimpse into both the philosophical and technical dimensions of the crypto space.
His thoughts not only clarify key debates in the ecosystem but also reveal deeper values—privacy by design, thoughtful decentralization, and long-term thinking. Let’s dive into the highlights from this wide-ranging conversation.
Account Abstraction: A Missed Opportunity?
One of the most revealing answers came when asked if he would include account abstraction in Ethereum had he done it over.
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Vitalik’s response? “Yes, absolutely.” He elaborated that a redesigned system would embed something like ERC-4337 at the protocol level. His simplified model includes:
- Each user account has a “validation code” that can only read storage and transactions.
- Transactions first call this validation code; upon success, they execute specified actions.
- Nonces remain managed by Ethereum for replay protection.
While aggregation (like signature batching) is missing in this base version, Vitalik sees two promising paths forward:
- ERC-4337-style general-purpose aggregation, or
- A more opinionated framework where aggregated "claims" (e.g., static calls to Ethereum state) are proven via ZK-EVM.
He leans toward the second option as more scalable and secure in the long run. He also expressed interest in making privacy tools more native, not through full Zcash-style anonymity, but via recursive SNARKs and accessible privacy-preserving infrastructure.
The Future of Crypto-Friendly Nations
When asked which countries might become long-term hubs for cryptocurrency innovation and living, Vitalik showed a clear preference:
“Typically more optimistic about small countries than large ones.”
This aligns with his past advocacy for modular governance and jurisdictional competition—smaller nations often move faster, experiment boldly, and adopt pro-innovation policies without bureaucratic inertia. Think Singapore, Portugal, or emerging digital nomad economies embracing crypto-native lifestyles.
Regenerative Finance and Public Goods Funding
On public goods funding—a topic close to Vitalik’s heart—he expressed excitement about tracking funding provenance. The idea is to map entire contribution trees behind successful projects, enabling fair recognition and reward for indirect contributors.
This vision ties directly into quadratic funding, retroactive public goods financing, and tools like Gitcoin Grants. If we can trace how early research led to real-world impact, funding becomes more efficient and equitable.
Zuzalu: Successes and Open Challenges
Zuzalu, the experimental community pop-up city in Montenegro, exceeded expectations in several ways:
- Full logistical execution was feasible.
- Participants stayed for extended periods.
- Ideas cross-pollinated across disciplines.
- Zero-knowledge (ZK) tech was successfully integrated.
- A healthy, collaborative culture emerged.
But scaling remains a challenge. How do you maintain high quality while staying inclusive? Vitalik suggests multi-layered “community networks”—a decentralized web of trust that balances openness with curation.
Next steps? Deeper adoption of privacy-preserving, open-source tools beyond Zupass and Zupoll. He specifically mentioned moving away from Telegram and adopting alternatives like @ethstatus or @skiffprivacy, along with using ETH on L2s for payments.
Ethereum vs. Bitcoin Culture: A Warning Sign?
When questioned about Ethereum potentially mirroring Bitcoin’s culture—dominated by loud, non-technical voices—Vitalik offered nuance.
It’s not non-technical participation that worries him. Rather, it’s the dangerous triad of:
- Non-technical views
- Overconfidence
- Adversarial mindset
He emphasized that #2 and #3 are far more concerning than #1. Civil discourse, humility, and collaboration matter—especially as Ethereum grows in influence.
Mars, Tickets, and TPS: Would He Leave Earth?
Hypotheticals drew some playful yet thoughtful replies. If Mars had 1 million residents by 2050, $50k tickets, and Ethereum reached 60 million TPS?
“It depends on quality of life—and the jurisdiction and culture of the Mars city.”
Even interplanetary migration hinges on governance and social design. Technology enables movement; culture determines whether we thrive.
Bridging Ethereum and Bitcoin Communities
Despite historical rivalry, Vitalik sees room for cooperation—especially around non-blockchain privacy tools. Shared priorities could include:
- End-to-end encrypted messaging (no phone numbers required)
- Internet anonymity solutions
- Secure collaboration platforms
- Privacy-first operating systems (like GrapheneOS or Qubes)
- Open hardware and open VR ecosystems
These areas transcend chain wars and serve broader digital freedom goals.
What Drains His Energy in Crypto?
Vitalik named several pain points:
- Overemphasis on tokenization as crypto’s primary innovation
- Massive capital misallocation to low-value projects
- Principle-violating actors (e.g., fake libertarians)
- Unrealistic purism (“12-word seed phrases are enough for everyone!”)
- Needless conflict
Tokenization fatigue stood out—he acknowledges its role in democratizing finance but warns it distracts from deeper technological potential like verifiable computation, privacy layers, and decentralized identity.
MPC Wallets: A Fundamental Flaw?
On a technical but critical note, Vitalik dismissed MPC-based EOA wallets as fundamentally flawed:
“They cannot revoke keys—re-sharing doesn’t count; old holders can still recover the key. Smart contract wallets are the only viable path.”
This drew pushback from MPC wallet builders who argue usability and hardware integration offset these risks. But Vitalik stands firm: without true key revocation and programmable recovery logic, MPC wallets fail to meet long-term security standards.
Smart contract wallets, by contrast, allow features like social recovery, time locks, spending limits, and upgradeability—essential for mainstream adoption.
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Personal Insights: Long Walks and Ukraine Donations
Beyond tech, Vitalik shared personal details:
- He uses browser, chat apps, Duolingo, Pleco (for Chinese), and an ETH wallet daily.
- He continues donating to Ukraine—directly in ETH and other cryptocurrencies.
- His longest recorded walk? 113 kilometers in 23 hours.
That’s not just endurance—it’s a metaphor for his approach to building: persistent, deliberate, and marathon-paced.
Existential Risks: What Keeps Him Up at Night?
Looking ahead to the next century, Vitalik ranked top global threats:
- Artificial intelligence
- Engineered super-pandemics
- Nuclear war
- Stable but oppressive AI-augmented totalitarianism
These aren’t sci-fi fantasies—they’re real risks requiring proactive coordination across governments, technologists, and civil society.
FAQ Section
Q: Why does Vitalik prefer smart contract wallets over MPC wallets?
A: Because MPC wallets lack true key revocation. Even after re-sharing, former key holders can reconstruct access. Smart contract wallets enable programmable security features like social recovery and time-locked transactions.
Q: Did Vitalik change his view on Bitcoin Cash?
A: While he previously called BCH a failure due to internal conflicts, he now acknowledges cultural progress within its community, saying: “Visible culture has improved! Good luck.”
Q: What privacy tools does Vitalik recommend?
A: He supports end-to-end encrypted messaging (without phone numbers), internet anonymity tools, secure OS options like GrapheneOS or Qubes, and open-source hardware/VR platforms.
Q: Is Zuzalu happening again?
A: While no date is set, Vitalik wants future iterations to deepen adoption of decentralized tech—especially beyond Zupass/Zupoll—and shift from Telegram to privacy-focused alternatives.
Q: How far did Vitalik walk?
A: His longest trek was 113 kilometers completed in 23 hours—an impressive feat reflecting his endurance mindset.
Q: Where does Vitalik see crypto innovation thriving?
A: In smaller nations that can move quickly and embrace experimental governance models. These jurisdictions are better positioned to become crypto-friendly living hubs.
Core Keywords:
- Vitalik Buterin
- Ethereum account abstraction
- MPC wallet flaws
- Smart contract wallets
- Zuzalu community
- Public goods funding
- Crypto privacy tools
- Blockchain culture
Whether you're exploring wallet architecture or pondering humanity's future on Mars, Vitalik’s AMA reminds us that technology must serve people—not the other way around.